A group of Republican state lawmakers are requesting the autopsy and toxicology reports of the gunman who killed two children and wounded many others when he opened fire on Annunciation Catholic School last month.
In a letter sent to Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the GOP legislators requested the autopsy and accompanying toxicology reports under Minnesota’s government data practices law which requires state agencies to release public data upon request.
Autopsy reports are public under state law.
Further, the group asked BCA officials to expand the toxicology analysis of the shooter to check for the presence of a wide range of drugs such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, cannabinoids, and drugs commonly used in gender transition attempts.
“Such comprehensive toxicology testing will help provide clarity on any pharmaceuticals or substances that may have been present and inform the investigative conclusions,” wrote the lawmakers. “Knowing the complete picture of what substances, legal and illegal, may have played a role in the perpetrator’s mental state would go a long way to understanding the factors that influenced the perpetrator’s motivations in committing this horrific act.”
“It would also inform the public debate on the use of these drugs, as we and other legislators struggle to understand the effects of these drugs on our society,” they added.
The letter, which was led by Sen. Steve Drazkowski, was signed by 35 legislators who serve in either the Minnesota Senate or the Minnesota House of Representatives. According to a press release, the letter was sent to the BCA on Tuesday.
On Aug. 27, a shooter named Robert “Robin” Westman opened fire on students and other worshipers who were attending a morning Mass service at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed and many others were injured. Westman, a 23-year-old, committed suicide after firing more than 100 rounds.
Since the shooting, writings allegedly connected to Westman have been uncovered. In one of his alleged writings, Westman said “Gender and weed f-cked up my head. I wish I never tried experimenting with either. Don’t let your kids smoke weed or change gender until they are like seventeen.”
In 2020, Westman legally changed his name from Robert to Robin with parental assistance. He was 17-years-old. A court order granting the change notes that “Minor child identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
